Painfully Happy

Nanette Mbili, a South African singer-songwriter from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, began her music career after graduating high school in 2020 while pursuing a law degree. Her therapeutic songwriting, influenced by artists like Whitney Houston and Beyoncé, blends raw emotion and soulful storytelling within the R&B genre.

During South Africa’s lockdown, Nanette wrote and produced her 2022 debut album, Bad Weather, which reached number 10 on the African Apple Music chart and earned a SAMA nomination for Best R&B Album in 2023.In December 2022, she featured on Kelvin Momo’s amapiano album, Amukelani, with the tracks
“Imfula” and “Fool Me” both topping Spotify, YouTube Trending, and Apple Music charts.

Nanette’s 2024 sophomore project, The Waiting Room, further established her as a leading musical talent. The album showcases her diverse artistry, combining R&B, hip-hop, and amapiano, and includes notable collaborations such as “Talk 2 Me” with Blxckie and BGRZ, and “Tonight” with Nasty C and Tellaman, solidifying her innovative sound and heartfelt narratives in contemporary R&B.

In 2025, Nanette prepares to release her EP Painfully Happy, an elevated take on her relatable writing, soothing vocals and provocative storytelling.